Riverside Park bids come in over budget
Jul. 15—The Logansport Parks & Recreation Department received two bids for the upcoming Riverside Park project.
However, both were over-budget, meaning the Parks Board will either have to make some improvement cuts or figure out how to secure additional funding in order to move ahead with current plans. So, after opening the sealed bids Wednesday, the group opted to take them under advisement.
Plymouth-based Michiana Contracting's bid came in at $684,500 for the park improvements and $28,500 for the basketball court with fencing work. Meanwhile, Logansport's Deichman had a bid of $565,900 for the overall park plan and $22,950 for basketball and fence development.
The Parks & Recreation Department received $250,000 as part of a Land and Water Conservation matching grant through the National Park Services and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. In addition, the Cass County Redevelopment Commission has earmarked $125,000, and the County Economic Development Income Tax Fund (CEDIT) has provided another $125,000 toward Riverside's project.
Extra financial support to be used for the work has brought the total monies at $550,000, said Jan Fawley, administrator. But since both bids were over that amount, "we may have to rebid once we alter plans."
However, if the board chose to accept Deichman's figure, then Fawley suggested alternate ways of getting the additional $16,000 in order to maintain the course. One idea, she said, would be to pull dollars from the playground budget. Another would be to ask the City Council for the funding.
If either scenario would be acceptable, then the board would not have to go through another bidding process.
Along with a fitness court to be added to Riverside, improvements to the site include adding pickleball and basketball courts west of the Dentzel Carousel building. The pickleball courts may range in size of 30-by-60 feet so that two or four players may use a paddleball to hit a ball over a net, combining the elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis.
And despite any postponement due to this situation, Fawley said she would like to have electricity in sooner rather than later. Likewise, she said the Logansport Police Department continues to help monitor the 13-acre park site for vandals.
A major problem recently, she said, the vandalism is being addressed. And with extra patrol in the area, "hopefully, it'll make a difference," she said.
AUCTION MONIES
The Parks Department received more than $11,400 from the public auction that was held last month. Fawley said she would like to have the monies placed in the general fund so gasoline, oil, and mulch purchases could be made. It may take up to six weeks before a transfer of funds occurs.
SPECIAL OFFICERS
The board approved a resolution that would permit donations to the Cass County Special Officers, a group of volunteers who direct traffic and assist during public events like the July 4 celebration. The passage will allow the board have a blanket policy in place to follow whenever they want to donate or pay a group for their services.
NON-REVERTING FUND
Fawley reported that the department has a $21,600 shortfall in funding based upon last year's lack of financial support due to the pandemic. Therefore, she would like to have additional appropriations for the non-reverting operating fund. Of that amount, $10,000 would be earmarked for Christmas in the Park. She said she was seeking dollars from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) fund that would be reimbursed by the CARES ACT monies that the city will receive. The board approved her request.
Reach Kristi Hileman at kristi.hileman@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5150
